Yesterday, I left work in an awful hurry.

Had to go pick up the little person, then get home to swap vehicles. Climbed in the old F150 and headed east to help a friend move a piece of furniture.

'bout five miles out, I start hearing "whap, whap, whap..." and I notice that the steering wheel got awful tight...

I figured out what must have happened, but sheesh...has anyone here ever tried to steer a 79 F150 4x4 with power steering that suddenly has no power steering?

I got a work out.

I wrestled the thing into my banks parking lot...and called the aforementioned buddy. I debated just driving without power steering...he assured me that wasn't such a good idea. I had the truck idling at the moment, and noticed it getting awful hot.

Turns out the power steering belt is also the ONLY water pump belt.

So the little one and I sat inside the bank, where everyone was extremely gracious to us, (and some were rather HOT!!) and waited for my friend to arrive. He gave us a ride into town (eight miles east) to purchase a belt,
then 13 miles west back to my home to grab tools, and then a ride back to the truck.

After some "creative" mechanicing...the truck was back on the road. We got to his friends house, loaded the furniture, and made it to his house...just about 60 miles from my house...unloaded the truck and left it there. (He gave me a ride home...)

Sitting in his driveway, my truck is now 8.5 miles from the junkyard that offered me $600 for it.

....I'm thinkin' bout it....

 

yes I have drove a 79 f-150 4x4 w/o ps and it stinks.and no don't scrap her just take a step back and maybe it will get better tomarrow.

 

Can't say I ever drove one of those with or without power steering.

I do drive my 56 all the time without power steering. Not the same thing though. :P

If you scrap this one...can you afford to buy another truck right now? I absolutely hate being without a truck of some kind. I have had one (different ones) in my possession since 1989.

 

...dunno yet...

I figure it will be Spring before I buy another one.

I really can't drive mine much in the winter anyway...so I'm not exactly sure when I'm gonna get rid of it, but I'm going to by the replacement for my birthday. (02 March...)

 

After it made the "Lake of the Ozarks" FTE trip, down and back. You couldn't do that to her! Take a deep breath, relax, relish the fact you own a FORD truck.

Don't let a little belt break, cause all this. I know you will regret it, if you sell her.

IMO, drink a cold one and think about it later.

 

you sell it to a bone yard we are going to have to find you and thump you seruoisly how many 73-79 do you see on the road... mmmm nada I still have my 77 and 79 they don't cost nothing to set around... and plus if you leave the new truck set around it will do the same thing and cost more (6 for old belt 20 for serpintine) plus will the new truck be as simple to work on.... if any thing send it to a fellow board member first for the $600 bucks at least it would get used...

 

Please tell me you didnt send it to the junkyard. I have gotten rid of a few car's after they broke down a couple of times, i'd feel like it was a hunk of ****, get rid of it to someone cheap, then 2 month's later wish I had it back. You said you had it driveable... get it home and let it sit in the yard for 6 month's before you do anything. By the end of that time, you might decide you want to do a frame off restoration, or you may still want to get rid of it, but it's better safe than sorry.

 

Well, the good news is...I didn't scrap it.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/769049-sold-it.html

 

Dude, i didnt even put 2 & 2 together. I read that the other day at home, but didnt think nothin of it. Sorry.

 

No problems!